Hydrofluorocarbon detection device

ABSTRACT

The present technology provides an illustrative hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) detection device that includes a decomposition component, a charged particle filter, and a sensing component. The decomposition component is configured to irradiate a gas sample with a radioactive element to decompose HFC gas under conditions sufficient to form hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas and one or more ionized particles. The charged particle filter is configured to filter the one or more ionized particles, and the sensing component is configured to detect the HF gas.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional application of U.S. applicationSer. No. 13/126,085, filed on Apr. 26, 2011, which is a U.S. nationalstage application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No.PCT/US2010/046984, filed on Aug. 27, 2010, of which the entire contentsof each are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

The following description is provided to assist the understanding of thereader. None of the information provided or references cited is admittedto be prior art.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are commonly used as refrigerants in householdrefrigeration devices such as refrigerators and air conditioners. HFCsare generally safe, inexpensive, chemically stable, efficient,non-toxic, and non-ozone depleting. However, many HFCs have high globalwarming potential (GWP) values. Gases having high GWP values aregenerally considered to increase global warming at a higher rate thangases having low GWP values. Due to the numerous advantages of HFCs, asuitable alternative refrigerant having similar safety, toxicity, andchemical stability characteristics is not readily available.

Many refrigeration devices currently in use are susceptible to HFCleaks. Such leaks enable the release of HFCs into the atmosphere thusfurther contributing to global warming. Consequently, there is a needfor devices and systems that detect and prevent HFC emissions in theevent of such a leak.

SUMMARY

The present technology provides an illustrative method for detectinghydrofluorocarbon (HFC) gas. The method includes irradiating a gassample with a radioactive element under conditions sufficient todecompose HFC gas to form hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas and one or moreionized particles. The method further includes filtering the one or moreionized particles using a charged particle filter, and detecting the HFgas using an HF sensor, wherein the presence of the HF gas is indicativeof the presence of HFC gas.

The present technology also provides an illustrative hydrofluorocarbondetection device that includes a decomposition component, a chargedparticle filter, and a sensing component. The decomposition component isconfigured to irradiate a gas sample with a radioactive element todecompose HFC gas under conditions sufficient to form hydrogen fluoride(HF) gas and one or more ionized particles. The charged particle filteris configured to filter the one or more ionized particles, and thesensing component is configured to detect the HF gas.

The present technology also includes an illustrative refrigeratingdevice that includes a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) detector that isconfigured to detect an HFC gas. The HFC detector includes adecomposition component, a charged particle filter, and a sensingcomponent. The decomposition component is configured to irradiate an HFCgas sample with americium under conditions sufficient to decompose HFCgas to a composition including hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas and one ormore ionized particles. The charged particle filter is configured tofilter the one or more ionized particles, and the sensing component isconfigured to detect the HF gas.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be inany way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments,and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and featureswill become apparent by reference to the following drawings and thedetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will becomemore fully apparent from the following description and appended claims,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding thatthese drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with thedisclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of itsscope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity anddetail through use of the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 depicts a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) detection device in accordancewith an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 2 depicts a method for detecting HFCs using the HFC detectiondevice of FIG. 1 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 3 depicts an HFC detection and elimination system in accordancewith an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 4 depicts a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) elimination device inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 5 depicts a cross-sectional view of the HFC elimination device ofFIG. 4 in accordance with an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 6 depicts a method for detecting and eliminating HFCs using the HFCdetection and elimination system of FIG. 3 in accordance with anillustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made,without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of thepresent disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated inthe figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in awide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitlycontemplated and make part of this disclosure.

Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) leaks may occur in any type of refrigerationdevice (e.g., refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.) that utilizes HFCsas a refrigerant. HFCs have high global warming potential values and, assuch, emission of HFCs into the atmosphere may contribute to globalwarming. Traditional HFC detectors are generally only able to detectlarge concentrations of HFC gas, e.g., detection in the range of 50parts-per-million (ppm) or worse. In addition, traditional HFC detectorsare generally expensive and bulky.

Described herein are illustrative devices and systems for detectingambient, gaseous HFC compositions in much smaller concentrations. Suchdetection devices and systems may allow for detection of HFCcompositions in the range of 10 parts-per-trillion (ppt). These HFCdetection devices include a decomposition component that is configuredto decompose a sample of HFC gas by irradiating the sample with anionizing radiation. The irradiation of the sample of HFC gas causes theHFC gas to form hydrogen fluoride (HF) and one or more ionizedparticles. The HFC detection device further includes a charged particlefilter that is configured to filter the one or more ionized particlesand a sensing component that is configured to detect the HF gas. Thepresence of the HF gas (as detected by the sensing component) isindicative of the presence of HFC gas. The HFC detection device andmethod described below allow for detection of trace amounts of ambientHFC compositions in a safe, cost effective, and efficient manner.

FIG. 1 depicts a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) detection device 100 inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment. HFC detection device 100includes a decomposition component 110, a charged particle filter 120,and a sensing component 130. Decomposition component 110 includes acompound selected to emit ionizing radiation which is used to decomposea sample of HFC gas. Air which may or may not include HFC gas may bedistributed to decomposition component 110 via a fan or pump. In analternative embodiment, decomposition component 110 may include a volumeopen to the flow of ambient air. According to such an embodiment, nospecialized equipment is needed to move air into decomposition component110. Accordingly, air is distributed to within a vicinity of theionizing radiation produced by the selected compound as known to thoseof skill in the art and as are commonly used in household smokedetectors.

In an illustrative embodiment, the compound selected to emit ionizingradiation is an alpha emitting radioactive element such as241-americium. In alternative embodiments, the compound may comprise anylow-energy alpha-emitting radioactive element capable of decomposing HFCgas via ionizing radiation as known to those of skill in the art. In anexample embodiment, 0.28 micrograms (μg) of 241-americium is used,although larger or small amounts of americium may be used. In anembodiment, the americium is enclosed within a container that includes apinhole that allows the ionizing radiation from the 241-americium toescape and irradiate the ambient air collected in decompositioncomponent 110. In an embodiment, the pinhole has a circularconfiguration with a diameter of 0.5-4 mm. In alternative embodiments,the pinhole may have any configuration known to those of skill in theart in accordance with design needs. In alternative embodiments, alow-energy gamma emitter such as 137-cesium may be used. Decompositioncomponent 110 is configured to irradiate the sample of HFC gas, thuscausing the decomposition of the HFC gas into hydrogen fluoride. In anillustrative embodiment, the sample of HFC gas is mixed with oxygen andnitrogen from the ambient air. As a result, the decomposition of thesample of HFC gas by irradiation will also result in the irradiation ofthe oxygen, nitrogen, and any other particles within the ambient air.The irradiation will thus produce not only hydrogen fluoride but alsoionized oxygen, ionized nitrogen, and other ionized particles such astrace amounts of argon, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, water vapor,etc.

Charged particle filter 120 is configured to filter the various ionizedparticles produced by the irradiation so as to prevent sensing component130 from sensing the presence of these particles. Without the filtrationof the various ionized particles by charged particle filter 120, thevarious ionized particles would cause the sensing component 130 to reada large noise signal, thus obscuring readings of hydrogen fluoride. Inan illustrative embodiment, charged particle filter 120 includes acharged metal grid or mesh that is positioned between the area of HFCdetection device 100 where the sample of HFC gas is decomposed andsensing component 130. In alternative embodiments, charged particlefilter 120 may comprise a grid having a helical configuration.

In an embodiment, charged particle filter 120 may have a size of lessthan 1 cm³ and may have openings having a diameter of approximately 50μm. In some embodiments, charged particle filter 120 and sensingcomponent 130 may be located within an inch of decomposition component110. Sensing component 130 may be positioned within 0.5-5 mm of chargedparticle filter 120. In alternative embodiments, alternative spacing maybe utilized in accordance with design needs.

Charged particle filter 120 allows neutral compounds such as hydrogenfluoride to pass through. However, the charged metal grid either repelsor attracts the ionized particles, thus preventing their passage tosensing component 130. Charged particle filter 120 may be made of anymaterial capable of repelling and attracting such ionized particles. Forexample, charged particle filter 120 may comprise tungsten, rhenium,tantalum, platinum, copper, or other similar materials known to those ofskill in the art. In this way, the noise signal generated by the ionizedparticles at sensing component 130 is greatly reduced.

Sensing component 130 is configured to detect the presence of thehydrogen fluoride gas that is produced by the decomposition of the HFCgas. The detection of hydrogen fluoride gas by sensing component 130 isindicative of the presence of HFC gas. In an illustrative embodiment,sensing component 130 is a tin dioxide-based thin film sensor. Tindioxide-based thin film sensors are capable of detecting the presence ofvery small amounts of hydrogen fluoride, e.g., around 50 ppb. Variousother hydrogen fluoride detectors such as the semiconductor-based“WS-CRDS” hydrogen fluoride detector manufactured by Picarro may detecthydrogen fluoride concentrations down to around 10 ppt. In variousembodiments, sensing component 130 may be any hydrogen fluoride detectorknown to those of skill in the art, e.g., semiconductor-based sensor,infrared sensor, etc. Various other hydrogen fluoride detectors such asthe “WS-CRDS” hydrogen fluoride detector manufactured by Picarro maydetect hydrogen fluoride concentrations down to around 10 ppt.

FIG. 2 depicts a method 200 for detecting an ambient HFC compositionusing HFC detection device 100 of FIG. 1 in accordance with anillustrative embodiment. In an operation 210, HFC detection device 100irradiates a sample of HFC gas with an ionizing radiation via adecomposition component. In an embodiment, 2.4×10¹⁸ eV/gh of241-americium may be used to irradiate the sample of HFC gas. Inalternative embodiments, varying concentrations of 241-americium may beused in accordance with design needs. In alternative embodiments, theHFC gas may be irradiated with a gamma emitter, such as but not limitedto 137-cesium or any other radioactive element capable of decomposingHFC gas via ionizing radiation as known to those of skill in the art.The irradiation of the sample of HFC gas causes the HFC gas to decomposeinto hydrogen fluoride gas and one or more ionized particles. In anillustrative embodiment, the sample of HFC gas may be mixed with orpresent in ambient air that may include oxygen, nitrogen, and variousother particles. As a result the irradiation of the sample of HFC gaswill also result in the irradiation of other particles in the ambientair included in the sample of HFC gas to produce hydrogen fluoride (fromthe decomposition of the HFC gas) as well as ionized oxygen, nitrogen,and other particles (from the irradiation of the ambient air).

In an operation 220, a charged particle filter is used to filter theionized particles. In an illustrative embodiment, a metal filter such asa mesh grid is charged. The charged metal grid allows neutral compoundssuch as hydrogen fluoride to pass through. The charged particle filterrepels or attracts the various ionized particles (depending on thepolarities of the ionized particles and the filter) to prevent themovement of ionized particles to an area near the sensing component.Without the filtration of the various ionized particles by the chargedparticle filter, the various ionized particles would likely cause alarge noise signal in the sensing component, thus obscuring any readingsof hydrogen fluoride.

In an operation 230, a sensing component such as a tin dioxide-basedthin film sensor or other hydrogen fluoride detector known to those ofskill in the art detects hydrogen fluoride that is produced by thedecomposition of the sample of HFC gas. Detection of hydrogen fluoridegas is thus considered an indication of the presence of HFC gas. In anembodiment, the concentration of HFC gas within the air may bedetermined based on the concentration of hydrogen fluoride gas detectedby the sensing component. The relationship of the concentration ofdetected hydrogen fluoride gas to HFC gas will depend on the type of HFCgas within the air, because different types of HFC gas will producedifferent amounts of hydrogen fluoride gas when irradiated. In anembodiment, the concentration of HFC gas within the air is determined bycalculating the amount of HFC gas required to produce the amount of HFgas detected by the sensing component (and which results from theirradiation of the HFC gas with the irradiation compound). According tosuch an embodiment, the sensing component may include a microprocessorconfigured to perform such a calculation. Alternatively, the sensingcomponent may be communicatively coupled to an external microprocessorthat is configured to perform the calculation. In an embodiment, thetype of HFC gas expected to be detected by the detection device ismanually input (and/or pre-programmed) into the microprocessor to ensurethat the correct calculations are used to determine the amount of HFCgas.

In an operation 240, an appropriate response to a positive or negativedetection of hydrogen fluoride may be conducted. In an illustrativeembodiment, in response to a positive detection of hydrogen fluoride, analarm is triggered. As discussed above, the detection of hydrogenfluoride having a concentration of down to 10 ppt may be sufficient totrigger the alarm. However, the threshold amount required to trigger thealarm may be any amount that is capable of being detected by an HFCsensor. Accordingly, as more sensitive HFC sensors are developed, lowerthreshold amounts may be used to trigger the alarm.

The alarm may be any alarm known to those of skill in the art. Forexample, the alarm may be an audible alarm, a visual alarm, or acombination. In an embodiment, the sensing component may becommunicatively coupled to a computer that is configured to provide thealarm. In alternative embodiments, the computer may be configured toprovide a wireless output and a readout as known to those of skill inthe art to communicate the positive detection of hydrogen fluoride. Inan alternative embodiment, the computer may be configured to trigger anHFC elimination device in response to a positive detection of hydrogenfluoride in order to eliminate ambient HFC gas. The computer maycommunicate with the HFC elimination device via a hardwired or wirelessconnection as known to those of skill in the art. In response to anegative detection of hydrogen fluoride, the computer may be furtherconfigured to convey an appropriate signal (e.g., an audible or visualsignal) indicating that no HFC gas or that an amount of HFC gas below adetectable amount is currently present in the air. For example, areadout may be presented on a display indicating the lack of HFC gas.

FIG. 3 depicts an HFC detection and elimination system 300 in accordancewith an illustrative embodiment. System 300 includes an HFC detectiondevice 310 that is communicatively coupled to an HFC elimination device320 by a communication channel 330. In an embodiment, HFC detectiondevice 310 includes a decomposition component, a charged particlefilter, and a sensing component as discussed above. The decompositioncomponent is configured to irradiate ambient air with americium or anyother radiation-emitting compound configured to produce ionizingradiation. If the ambient air includes an HFC composition, theirradiated americium causes the HFC composition to decompose to acomposition which includes hydrogen fluoride gas and one or more ionizedparticles. The sensing component of HFC detection device 310 isconfigured to detect the presence of hydrogen fluoride gas.Consequently, the sensing component will detect the presence of anyhydrogen fluoride gas that results from the decomposition of an HFCcomposition in the ambient air due to irradiation with americium. Uponsensing the hydrogen fluoride gas, HFC detection device 310 outputs anelectrical signal indicating the presence of the HFC composition. Thecharged particle filter repels or attracts the one or more ionizedparticles thus preventing the movement of the one or more ionizedparticles from a location where the HFC composition is decomposed to thesensing component. As a result, the charged particle filter prevents theoccurrence of excessive noise at the sensing component due to thesensing of the ionized particles.

HFC elimination device 320 may be any device known to those of skill inthe art that is capable of eliminating ambient HFC gas. In anembodiment, HFC elimination device 320 includes an outer glass surfaceformed on an external case and an internal heating element positionedwithin the external case as described below with respect to FIGS. 4 and5. In response to an electrical signal from HFC detection device 310,the internal heating element of HFC elimination device 320 is configuredto heat the glass surface so that upon contact with an ambient HFCcomposition, the HFC composition will be decomposed as discussed furtherbelow.

FIG. 4 depicts a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) elimination device 400 inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment. HFC elimination device 400includes a component 410 and a heating element 430 (not shown in FIG.4). Heating element 430 may include an electric heating coil, anelectric heating rod, or any other heating device known to those ofskill in the art. In an embodiment, heating element 430 is positionedwithin component 410 as illustrated in FIG. 5. Component 410 may beformed of metal, glass, or any other products known to those of skill inthe art that would allow for heat transfer between heating element 430and a glass surface 420. Glass surface 420 is formed on the surface ofcomponent 410. Glass surface 420 may comprise 45S5 bioglass, soda limeglass, or any other glass known to those of skill in the art that iscapable of reacting with HFCs as described below. Glass surface 420 maycomprise one or more glass beads. In an embodiment, glass surface 420comprises a plurality of glass beads. In another alternative embodiment,glass surface 420 may include a glass frit, i.e., a granulatedcomposition of ceramic, sand, powder, etc. used to make glass. Invarious other embodiments, any glass configuration known to those ofskill in the art that allows for contact between the heated glass andambient air could be used.

FIG. 5 depicts a cross-sectional view of HFC elimination device 400 inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment. As discussed above, HFCelimination device 400 includes a heating element 430 that is positionedwithin component 410. In alternative embodiments, heating element 430need not be positioned within component 410 so long as heating element430 is positioned within a proximity of component 410 such that it maysufficiently heat glass surface 420. For example, in an illustrativeembodiment, component 410 may comprise a sheet of metal having a glasssurface and heating element 430 may be positioned behind component 410but in sufficient proximity to heat the glass surface.

In response to a signal from an HFC sensor indicating the presence of anambient, gaseous HFC composition, heating element 430 heats glasssurface 420. The HFC sensor may be a tin oxide based semiconductorsensor, an infrared sensor, or any other HFC sensor known to those ofskill in the art. In an illustrative embodiment, the HFC sensor isconnected to an analog or digital input of a microprocessor which isconfigured to control the heating element. In various embodiments, theHFC sensor may be connected to the microprocessor via a hardwired orwireless communication channel as known to those of skill in the art.

In an alternative embodiment, heating element 430 may be configured toperiodically turn on and off. Glass surface 420 is heated via a radiantheating process, whereby heat emitted from heating element 430 radiatesoutward and is absorbed by glass surface 420. Upon contact with theambient, gaseous HFC composition, heated glass surface 420 reacts withthe HFC composition to form various non-toxic, untraceable byproductsthat have smaller global warming potential values than the ambient,gaseous HFC composition.

Heated glass surface 420 reacts with the ambient, gaseous HFCcomposition through a dealkalization process in which alkali ions arepulled from glass surface 420 and react with the ambient, gaseous HFCcomposition. The alkali ions of glass surface 420 include sodium oxide(Na₂O) and calcium oxide (CaO). As the ambient, gaseous HFC compositionreacts with the sodium oxide and calcium oxide of heated glass surface420, the HFC composition is decomposed and non-toxic, untraceable levelsof sodium fluoride and calcium fluoride are formed. In alternativeembodiments, sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium chloride (CaCl₂) may beproduced. U.S. Pat. No. 3,249,246 to William P. Mahoney uses a similarchemical reaction to dealkalize soda lime glass container surfaces forfood and drug applications, and is herein incorporated by reference inits entirety.

In an illustrative embodiment, system 300 is embodied as part of arefrigeration device such as a refrigerator or an air conditioningdevice. Such a refrigeration device may include a refrigerant coilthrough which a refrigerant that includes an HFC composition is passed.The refrigeration device may also include a compressor for compressingthe refrigerant. HFC detection device 310 and/or HFC elimination device320 may be located inside the refrigerant coil, within an areasurrounded by the refrigerant coil, or in close proximity to therefrigerant coil of the refrigerant device. In an alternativeembodiment, HFC detection device 310 and/or HFC elimination device 320may be located in or near the compressor. In other embodiments, HFCdetection device 310 and/or HFC elimination device 320 may be located inproximity to any component of a refrigeration device where a leak of anHFC composition may be possible as known to those of skill in the art.

Communication channel 330 may be any type of communication channel knownto those of skill in the art configured in a manner such that HFCdetection device 310 may communicate a signal to HFC elimination device320. In an embodiment, HFC detection device 310 may be hardwired to HFCelimination device 320. In an alternative embodiment, communicationchannel 330 may be a wireless communication path. In accordance withsuch an embodiment, HFC detection device 310 also includes a wirelesstransmitter configured to transmit a signal from HFC detection device310 to a wireless receiver of HFC elimination device 320.

FIG. 6 depicts a method for detecting and eliminating an ambient HFCcomposition using HFC detection and elimination system 300 of FIG. 3 inaccordance with an illustrative embodiment. In an operation 600, an HFCdetection device detects an ambient HFC composition. In response todetection of the ambient HFC composition, the HFC detection devicecommunicates a trigger signal to an HFC elimination device in anoperation 610, thereby indicating the presence of an ambient HFCcomposition. In an embodiment, the presence of the ambient HFCcomposition, may indicate a leak within a cooling system of arefrigeration device such as a refrigerator or an air conditioner. In anoperation 620, in response to receiving the trigger signal, an HFCelimination device, as known to those of skill in the art, may beactivated in order to eliminate the ambient HFC composition. In anillustrative embodiment, an internal heating element of the HFCelimination device heats a glass surface of the HFC elimination deviceto a temperature sufficient to cause decomposition of the ambient HFCcomposition upon contact with the heated glass surface. In one possibleembodiment, the glass surface is heated to a temperature of between 200°C. and 250° C.

In an operation 630, the heated glass surface reacts with the ambientHFC composition through a dealkalization process in which alkali ionssuch as Na+ and Ca2+ from sodium oxide (Na₂O) and calcium oxide (CaO),respectively, are pulled from the glass surface and react with theambient HFC composition. The glass surface may include high levels ofsodium oxide (Na₂O) and calcium oxide (CaO). As the ambient HFCcomposition reacts with the sodium oxide and calcium oxide of the heatedglass surface, the ambient HFC composition is decomposed and non-toxic,non-traceable levels of sodium fluoride and calcium fluoride are formed.In alternative embodiments, sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium chloride(CaCl₂) may be produced from the reaction. In this way, the ambient HFCcomposition is decomposed to form non-toxic byproducts with lower globalwarming potential values than the ambient HFC composition.

In alternative embodiments, any HFC elimination device known to those ofskill in the art may be used. Accordingly, operations 620 and 630 may bealtered or canceled according to the particular embodiment used.

One or more flow diagrams may have been used herein. The use of flowdiagrams is not meant to be limiting with respect to the order ofoperations performed. The herein described subject matter sometimesillustrates different components contained within, or connected with,different other components. It is to be understood that such depictedarchitectures are merely illustrative, and that in fact many otherarchitectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality.In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the samefunctionality is effectively “associated” such that the desiredfunctionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined toachieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” eachother such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components soassociated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or“operably coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality,and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewedas being “operably couplable”, to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but arenot limited to physically mateable and/or physically interactingcomponents and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interactingcomponents and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactablecomponents.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of theappended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general,such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral, such a construction is intended in the sense one having skillin the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having atleast one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systemsthat have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together,B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood toinclude the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

The foregoing description of illustrative embodiments has been presentedfor purposes of illustration and of description. It is not intended tobe exhaustive or limiting with respect to the precise form disclosed,and modifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings or may be acquired from practice of the disclosed embodiments.It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claimsappended hereto and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) detection devicecomprising: a decomposition component configured to irradiate a gassample with a radioactive element to decompose HFC gas under conditionssufficient to form hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas and one or more ionizedparticles; a charged particle filter configured to filter the one ormore ionized particles; and a sensing component configured to detect theHF gas, wherein the charged particle filter is positioned between thedecomposition component and the sensing component.
 2. The HFC detectiondevice of claim 1, further comprising a trigger component configured totrigger an alarm in response to detection of the HF gas.
 3. The HFCdetection device of claim 1, further comprising a trigger componentconfigured to trigger an HFC elimination device in response to detectionof the HF gas.
 4. The HFC detection device of claim 1, wherein the HFCgas comprises at least one of tetrafluoroethane, pentafluoroethane,trifluoroethane, or difluoroethane.
 5. The HFC detection device of claim1, wherein the sensing component comprises a semiconductor gas sensor ora tin dioxide-based thin film sensor.
 6. The HFC detection device ofclaim 1, wherein the radioactive element comprises an alpha-emittingcompound.
 7. The HFC detection device of claim 1, wherein theradioactive element comprises a gamma-emitting compound.
 8. The HFCdetection device of claim 1, wherein the charged particle filtercomprises a charged metal grid.
 9. The HFC detection device of claim 1,wherein the charged particle filter is configured to prevent the one ormore ionized particles from moving from an area of the decompositioncomponent to an area of the sensing component, and wherein the chargedparticle filter is configured to allow the HF gas to move from the areaof the decomposition component to the area of the sensing component. 10.A refrigerating device comprising: a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) detectorconfigured to detect an HFC gas, wherein the HFC detector comprises: adecomposition component configured to irradiate an HFC gas sample with aradioactive element under conditions sufficient to decompose HFC gas toa composition including hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas and one or moreionized particles; a charged particle filter configured to filter theone or more ionized particles; and a sensing component configured todetect the HF gas, wherein the charged particle filter is positionedbetween the decomposition component and the sensing component.
 11. Therefrigerating device of claim 10, further comprising an HFC eliminationdevice configured to convert the HFC gas to an alternative composition.12. The refrigerating device of claim 11, wherein the HFC detectorfurther comprises a trigger component configured to activate the HFCelimination device in response to detection of the HF gas.
 13. Therefrigerating device of claim 11, wherein the alternative compositionhas a lesser global warming potential value than the HFC gas, andwherein the alternative composition comprises at least one of calciumfluoride or sodium fluoride.
 14. The refrigerating device of claim 11,wherein the HFC elimination device comprises an external glass surfaceand a heating element located within the external glass surface.
 15. Therefrigerating device of claim 11, wherein the HFC elimination device isconfigured to convert the HFC gas to the alternative composition inresponse to a signal from the sensing component indicating that thesensing component detected the HF gas.
 16. The refrigerating device ofclaim 10, wherein the HFC detector further comprises a trigger componentconfigured to trigger an alarm in response to detection of the HF gas.17. The refrigerating device of claim 10, further comprising arefrigerant coil and a compressor, and wherein the HFC detector islocated within an area surrounded by the refrigerant coil or is locatedwithin the compressor.